The 8th Annual Conference of the Mathematical Cognition and Learning Society (MCLS) was held in Hong Kong from June 9th to 11th, 2025. Organized by MCLS and hosted by the Department of Early Childhood Education (ECE) at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), the event marked a significant milestone as the first MCLS conference held outside North America and Europe.
The 3-day conference welcomed over 250 participants from 27 countries, who engaged in a rich program featuring 24 symposium sessions, 50 lightning talks, and 90 poster presentations.
In his opening address, the President of EdUHK, Professor John Lee, emphasized the growing importance of interdisciplinary research in mathematical cognition and learning. “The field of mathematical cognition is rapidly expanding, with researchers from disciplines such as education, psychology, and neuroscience making groundbreaking contributions that enhance its scope and impact,” he noted.
The conference organising committee’s co-chairs, Dr. Jenny Yun-Chen Chan and Dr. Alfredo Bautista, expressed their gratitude to MCLS for entrusting ECE/EdUHK with this opportunity. “We are honoured to host this prestigious event and welcome so many leading experts in mathematical cognition to Asia for the first time,” they said in their welcome speech. Together with the two other members of the organizing committee, Dr. Sum Kwing Cheung and Prof. Kerry Lee, they encouraged attendees to take full advantage of the conference to explore new ideas, forge meaningful connections, and build collaborations that advance the field.
Dr. Emma Buchtel, Associate Head Internationalization of the Faculty of Education and Human Development (FEHD), delivered the closing remarks, urging attendees to continue their vital work. “It is imperative that we advocate for the central role of mathematical cognition in academic research and policy,” she stated. “By doing so, we can ensure its continued relevance and impact in shaping education and learning.”
The successful hosting of the MCLS 2025 conference underscores ECE’s commitment to advancing research in mathematical cognition and fostering global collaboration in this critical field.
To learn more about MCLS 2025, please visit the website: https://www.the-mcls.org/mcls-2025-hong-kong.
MCLS 2025 Organizing Committee Members (From left to right: Dr. Alfredo Bautista, Prof. Kerry Lee, Dr. Jenny Yun-Chen Chan, and Dr. Sum Kwing Cheung)
Opening Speech by the MCLS 2025 Organizing Committee
Participants of the the 8th Annual Conference of the Mathematical Cognition and Learning Society (MCLS)
Dr. Jenny Yun-Chen Chan, co-chair of the conference, delivers the welcome speech
Dr. Emma Buchtel, FEHD Associate Dean (International Engagement), delivers the closing remarks
Dr. Flavia H. Santos, Chair of MCLS, delivers the closing remarks
The opening plenary session
The closing plenary session
A presenter brings the audience to smiles in her parallel session
A poster presenter in one of the three poster sessions
Social reception on the first day of the conference
The Co-chairs and Secretariat of MCLS 2025